5 Router Bits for Beginner Woodworkers
5 Router Bits for Beginner Woodworkers
These are the five router bits I think every woodworker needs in their tool box. One of these router bits will probably surprise you as being “essential” but I think it is a must-have bit! A router is one of the most versatile woodworking tools you can have in your shop. Amazon and other affiliate links are used in this description and they help support this channel.
*Videos To Watch Next*
Router Table Build Video: https://youtu.be/Re_YJ9qE9KA
5 Tools Every Woodworker Needs: https://youtu.be/ctyIvBVA6Lk
PLANS and MERCH: https://www.731woodworks.com/store
*Products I Use and Recommend*
Use code 731CMT10 on CMT bits and 731MicroJig10 on the dovetail bit to save 10%
DeWalt Router I use: https://amzn.to/3vLgBMv
Ridgid Trim Router I Use: https://go.magik.ly/ml/1e09z/
4 Bit Set I recommend https://amzn.to/3INDNlN
1/8″ Roundover Bit: https://lddy.no/127ox
3/8″ Roundover Bit: https://lddy.no/127oy
45 Degree Chamfer Bit: https://lddy.no/127oz
3/4″ Straight Bit for Dados: https://lddy.no/127or
1/8″ Straight Bit: https://lddy.no/127os
Flush Trim Bit: https://lddy.no/127p5
Dovetail Bit: https://lddy.no/127p3
Another great place to buy router bits is Bits & Bits: https://bitsbits.com/ref/6215/
Copper Johns Beard Company: These are the men’s beard oils and soaps I use: https://social.731wood.works/0V6V9uFg
Use code 731 to save 15% off your order!
Join this channels membership to get access to exclusive member only livestreams, discounts, and other perks:
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Awesome video Brother.
US Military Veteran (Retired)
Jason
Awesome video Matt! Thank you for sharing all of this information. On to the next one! 😃
I got the dewalt and it is a beast!
I just subscribed to your channel. I like your shirt. I think I can trust you.
Thanks for doing these videos.i can follow your instructions.i like the way you are really clear on them.
I feel like 731 is one of the few woodworking channels that has a sense of reasonable affordability. So sick of creators who throw the word "cheap" around like were all getting sponsored ads haha
I joined your channel recently because I will start working with wood soon and I would like the user to learn as much as possible … I watched quite a few of your videos and you show a lot of smart things that everyone can learn if they want … thank you in advance for all the information and I hope to publish some instructions soon … thanks to such carpenters who also share knowledge, those who want to work with wood can learn everything. wood exudes some warmth that you can’t achieve with any metal.
Just curious do you have any plans for making American flake I noticed that in the dove tail fled that you made in the background if you can please message me back
I made a lot of interior barn door shutters and hinged double shutters for the inside of my house. I used 3/4"maple plywood for a backing and 3/4" maple plywood for panels and trim around the edges I put the panels together with Kreg screws and pocket holes. then glued the entire assemblage to the backing. In the end, they came our very nice. In any case, I had to cut a couple hundred pieces and each one needed to be chamfered on the edges. I ended up buying a cheap Kobalt router table and router from Lowes to do the chamfers. It cost $179 and was a good investment. (Buy it if you need a router.) I couldn’t chamfer 7X7" swaures or 20"X7" rectangles with a trim router as it always showed start points or. burn marks. The router table was the only way. Once I had it dialed in, I could chamfer a piece on four sides in about 30 seconds. I also used that router and table to cut rabbets 3/4 " deep and 1" wide on 7′ maple boards. As maple is hard,, I had to do them in three passes, but it worked just fine. Not as nice as Matt’s table and router, but it did the job. To cut those rabbets, I bought a Freud 1/2" bit. I had a set of Yonico 1/4" bits which are a bargain, but are really only meant for small routers. For anything heavy you need 1/2" bits.
4:46 So it rounds the edge just like a tubafor?
Which brands do you recommend?
Excellent introduction and demo of routers and necessary or common bits. I always buy cheap to try out test to see what it does and get familiar then buy the better quality bits when I’m ready to use in decent projects
So true… Katz-Moses is THE guy when it comes to recommendations and info
how about the tongue & groove bits?
good stuff just getting into wood workd love your content new sub much love
As a new subscriber I want to thank you for the great beginners information.
I was able to buy a reasonably priced used Dewalt DW618 Router as you suggested. Its a nice bit of gear. As new or experienced router operators don’t forget to use PPE every time.
Off subject here but which woodpeckers edge rule did you recommend? Was it the 24”? If so, would the 6” be used much or needed if I purchased it also? Thanks!
Or, if you want to try all these bits, just get the Bosch RBS006 set. For about a benjamin, you get all 5 of the bits he mentions (actually 2 straight bits, for 6 total). Great bits and the perfect starter set. It was my first set, and one of the best early decisions I made. Just my $.02
Thanks for ths video. I was wondering if a trim Router will Cut tongue and groove joints for Shaker style doors?
Or do you get something bigger?
5:40 if you swap the bearing with a smaller one, you get another feature edge.
Is this video for routers or router bits seems like routers
Gracias hombre i been learning a lot from you because you are a good teacher congratulations
There’s a 3rd router t get, a CNC router! My little Ryobi palm router might be getting a big brother very soon. Hope to place an order for a LongMill 30×30 CNC with a Makita router. Love my CMT router bits!
😎
Hey Matt, do you have a video on how to set these router bits? How high / low or do they get set flush with the base?
Thanks in advance! I’m a huge fan of your work!
I just bought the mdf template for the mallet build got it for my daughter to make for 4H project she’s doing woodworking
@731woodworks i got a dewalt router as a gift but the base plate on the plunge base is missing. Do you know where i can get another one? Im not having any luck with "dewaltrouter plunge base face plate" when i search 😪
Hundreds of bits in my boxes, and ZERO dovetail bits.
(Overly-Dramtic Voice) Dovetails make me siiiiiiiiiiiick!!!!
But seriously… I just don’t like dovetail joints. I think there’s far easier, stronger, sexier joints out there.
(I take it back… I like *some* dovetails… Large ones. Larger than any router/shaper can make.)
Do you have a video on best bit sets to get for your router for beginners and the next level set for intermediate
Thank you Sir
Jason
Thanks Bud, this helped me a lot. P.s don’t ever shave that beard.
On some materials i found climbing cuts is the only way.. or you going to shred the wood.
I’m so glad when I’m searching for something specific and one of your videos pops up. It makes my day .
When it comes to collet extenders, are those safe to use on a plunge router? Only ever see them installed on a router table.
Thank you. So clear and concise. I love your videos and your demeanor. And I love your FB group, too – the nicest one out there.
Invest in decent quality bits and they will last you a lifetime. I’m using bits that are 20+yrs old. Oven cleaner can remove the gunk and a little diamond plate to lap the back occasionally 😉
Flip top 🔝! Flip top 🔝!!! Make a flip top 🔝 !!!
"The 80s called and they want their edge profile back" Lol! Now you’ve given me a complex! Srsly great overview, from someone who just got a (Bosch) router. Thanks for the great video!
#1 recommended is a Straight Cut with bearing so you can work with 731 templates right?
I’m learning so much from you, it’s unbelievable.
After watching you make farmhouse style end tables and asking what the tool you used to put the edge on, I’ve finally got myself a palm/trim router.
Now I’m leaning what bits to buy.
Cheers mate n happy Christmas 🎄👍🏻
What bit would you use for a cutting board handle?
Thank you for a really great video. There’s a lot of good information here. I have a Kreg table and lift and I built some cabinet faces but I want to use this investment for so much more. Understand what bit does what is a great help. Thank you.
The spiral and the spiral compression bits will do a much better job than the straight bits and the straight pattern Bits . You just have to make sure you have the right one of them for the job. However, the straight pattern bits work well when there’s only 1/8", or so, to trim.
I like the DeWalt battery trim routers as they’re beasts that run well above their weight class. My trim routers have become my go-to routers for probably 90% of my router tasks; I’ve even gotten a mini base plate to allow me to mount the battery router in my router table extension. DeWalt like Makita and Bosch makes a plunge base for their trim routers; just be aware that the lock lever on the plunge bases for the trim routers works opposite to standard router plunge locks. I also run the larger DeWalt 2 1/4 HP router with the 3 base kit as I prefer the fixed base with the trigger handle; the standard fixed base is attached to a base plate in my router table extension which is attached to my table saw.
As a side note if you work with plywood a lot you should invest in a set of plywood bits or even just in the sizes of plywood you use as they’re undersized to the size of plywood which allows much better dados than say either a full sized bit or making 2 passes. As a cost save if you get straight cut bits with top bearings you’ll get two bits for the price of one as well as make it easier to cut deeper as the bit will automatically follow previous cuts; this set up also allows template cutting on a router table or free-hand with the same bit.
You do a great job Matt! You’ve inspired me big time my friend.
Clicks an interesting video title then instantly realizes this is the shmuck that uses his videos to ram his religion down on people. Skipped. There’s got to be a way to block these shit channels so they stop showing up in my feed.
That flush trim bit sounds like a great way to clean up scraps
As a beginner I appreciate videos like this! Great job on breaking down what each does as well as the visual presentation! 🙌👏
Are the cmt contractor bits any good? They seem to be way cheaper than the orange cmt bits
Do you happen to have a link where i could buy a set of bits more than 4 piece for a beginner? I do different projects time to time and would like to have a case with a set of bits for any occasion. Thanks
Great video. Thank you for sharing all of that information with us.